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Chapter_32
As Vivienne followed Arabella through the corridors, her every step deliberate and poised, she couldn’t help but feel a certain amusement rise within her. Arabella’s attempts to regain control of the situation were becoming increasingly transparent, and Vivienne wasn’t one to let her own pride be trampled.
Arabella kept her back straight, but there was an unmistakable tension in her shoulders, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her dress as if she was trying to hold herself together. Vivienne, on the other hand, maintained an air of casual indifference, her eyes scanning the surroundings as if this moment were nothing more than an inconvenience.
When they reached the small servant’s room, Arabella hastily opened the door, and with a strained smile, gestured for Vivienne to go inside. “Here we are. You can change here. I’ll have someone bring your things right away.”
Vivienne glanced around the modest space, noting its stark simplicity. It was clear that Arabella was doing her best to make the situation seem more uncomfortable than it truly was. However, Vivienne’s sharp mind saw through the charade.
“Are you sure you want to be seen with me in here?” Vivienne asked, her voice laced with a hint of mockery as she raised an eyebrow at Arabella. “I wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation by being seen with someone in the servant’s quarters.”
Arabella’s lips twitched, and for a moment, Vivienne thought she might snap, but instead, Arabella just forced a smile, her voice colder than before. “Of course not, Vivienne. But it’s not like you’re the type to mind such things, right?”
Vivienne’s smile widened, a knowing glint in her eyes. “I’m not like you, Arabella. I’ve never cared about appearances or where I am placed. But I do care about integrity, and I’m sure everyone here will soon see the truth.” She stepped into the room, deliberately brushing past Arabella.
Arabella watched her closely, her face carefully composed, but her eyes betrayed her. She could feel the pressure mounting, Vivienne’s words digging deep where it hurt. For all of her attempts to maintain control over the situation, Vivienne was turning the tables in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
“Vivienne,” Arabella said, her tone low but firm, “this game you’re playing will end soon. Don’t think I’ll let you have the upper hand forever.”
Vivienne turned her head slightly, offering a half-smile. “I don’t need to play games, Arabella. I’m not the one trying to destroy others to get ahead.”
Before Arabella could retort, Vivienne closed the door behind her, leaving the space filled with a tense silence.
Inside the servant’s room, Vivienne took a moment to compose herself. She was not afraid of Arabella, nor of the challenges that lay ahead. In fact, she relished in them. This was just another step in her own journey—a journey where she would not be controlled or manipulated.
As Vivienne changed into the clothes Arabella had brought, she couldn’t help but smile to herself. The evening wasn’t over yet. There were still cards to play, and she wasn’t about to let Arabella—or anyone else—control the game.
Meanwhile, outside the door, Arabella stood frozen for a moment, grappling with a mixture of frustration and resentment. Vivienne was proving to be far more difficult than she had expected. And in that moment, Arabella understood one thing: she was no longer just a pawn in this game. Vivienne, for all her grace and composure, was now her equal opponent.
Arabella’s resolve hardened. She would not lose. Not now, not ever.
